In an internet broadcast from the detention centre, Mr McAfee initially said returning to the US, where he made his fortune, "is my only hope now". But he later added: "I would be happy to go to England, I have dual citizenship."

"I cannot ever return to Belize. There is no hope for my life if I am ever returned to Belize. If I am returned bad things will clearly happen to me," he said.

McAfee described health problems that led to a brief stay in a Guatemalan hospital earlier this week. "I did not eat for two days, I drank very little liquids, and for the first time in many years I've been smoking almost non-stop," he said. "I stood up, passed out, hit my head on the wall, came to."

He went on the run last month after Belize officials tried to question him about the killing of his neighbour Gregory Viant Faull, an American, who was shot dead.

McAfee has denied any involvement and claims he is being persecuted by Belize police after he made allegations of corruption.

In the internet broadcast, he also praised the role that his 20-year-old Belizean girlfriend, Samantha Vanegas, played in his escape from Belize. "Sam saved the day many times," he said.

He suggested he would take her with him to the US if he was allowed to go there.

McAfee's lawyers have filed a request with a court in Guatemala asking that he be allowed to stay until his legal appeals against deportation have been settled, which could take months.